Leinster class can shine through

Leinster may be the focus of our thoughts here but it is worth pausing for a brief moment to take stock of just how far their opponents today have come in such a short space of time.

It is, after all, only 32 months since the European champions’ A team was facing an Exeter Chiefs side that was still in the second-tier of the English game in a humdrum British and Irish Cup match at Sandy Park.

They travelled to Dublin this week with their tails high after last weekend’s impressive dismissal of Harlequins on their home patch and it was no surprise yesterday to see that coach Rob Baxter has kept any alterations to a minimum. Bruff’s Tom Hayes returns to the second row as captain in place of Dean Mumm after being rested seven days ago while James Scaysbrook, one of three men at the club to feature in that game in February 2010, takes over at openside flanker from the injured Ben White.